Author: JT Hall
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Rating: 2 stars
Type: Novel
Provided by Publisher
Blurb: Donovan McGinnis, a veterinarian and conservationist at a research center in Sumatra, is fighting to save the rainforest from poachers and politicians alike. One day he discovers a tigress trapped by a snare, and while treating her injuries, she bites him. He becomes ill with strange symptoms that leave him feverish and dreaming of the jungle and blood.
Review: Donovan McGinnis is a veterinarian in Sumatra. He’s involved in conservation of tiger habitats and tiger rescue. After he’s injured by a tiger he begins to feel sick. The timing is bad as there is a company looking to purchase forest to use for agriculture. Kersen is tiger shifter. He’s not only interested in stopping deforestation, but he’s interested in getting his sister back from the tiger rescue. He’s also interested in Donovan McGinnis. Kersen realizes Donovan is becoming a shifter and will need help. Kersen also realizes Donovan can help his community in their fight against deforestation. As Donovan and Kersen realize they’re attracted to each other, Donovan realizes he may not be accepted by the people in Kersen’s village. Donovan also has to keep his new life as a tiger shifter secret.
I was really disappointed in this book. If I had to sum it up in one sentence it would be, “White guy saves brown people.” The White Savior trope isn’t anything new by any stretch. Here it was coupled with the Noble Savage trope with a hefty helping of White Man’s Burden thrown into the mix. I am honestly at a loss as to what to say.
This does function as a book. It’s got a cohesive plot and characters that do things. The relationship was vaguely Instalove, but that doesn’t bother me. I did expect it to be fated mates, but the guys just had instant attraction. I’m cool with that. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough to offset what I found to be really distasteful.